laborde



A. LABORDE.

CoMBxNED HoT WATER BOTTLEAND DOUCHE BAG.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I5. |916. v

Patented July 1, 1919.

2 SHIaEIS-SHEEI' Il ATTORNEY A. LABORDE.

COMBINED Ho wmnfoms AND noucHE BAG.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. |5| 1916- `IPaentedI July INVENTOR 1, 1919. 2 SHEETS-suur 2.

WITNESSES ATTOFIN EY ANNE LABUIRJDJE, 0F YGRK, N LY.

COMBINED HOT-WATER BOTTLE AND DOUCHELBAG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

i rarement muy i, mia.

Application filed December 15, 1916. Serial No. 137,189.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l[, ANNE LABORDE, a citizen of France, residing at New York city, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Hot-Water Bottles and Douche- Bags, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to medical appliances and more particularly to an improved hot water bottle and douche bag.

A primary object of the invention consists in the production of a hot water bag which is particularly adapted for warming the feet, but it may be used for ap-plication to various parts of the body for warming the same in connection with the treatment of Certain ailments or otherwise, and which will give a larger surface exposure for warming purpose-s than any other bag heretofore provided for this purpose, while in addition, and without material modification of the bag, the same maybe equipped for douching purposes.

In connection with the use of the device as a foot bag, it is an object to overcome theditliculties and objections incident to the use of the ordinary hot water bottle caused by the bulging thereof and collection of the water at one end of the bottle whereby its contacting surface area is considerably reduced, in addition to the fact that the ordinary hot water bottle cannot be applied to the feet and be held thereto to Warm both the bottom and the top portions and ankles of the feet at the same time.

lfn addition,l it is an object of the invention to provide a hot water bag which can be applied to the feet while a person is in a reclining position upon a bed or when seated in a chair with the feet propped upon a cushion supported on another chair or the like so as to cause the bag to fit snugly to the feet without materially exposing the same, and permitting both the top and bottom portions thereof to lbe warmed at the same time, also relieving the 'bag of undue pressure such as would undoubtedly cause estruction thereof should it be necessary to support the weight of the lower limbs upon the bag.

A still further object of the invention is to p-rovide novel fastening means for securing the bottle upon the feet of the patient or user, the bottle comprising-a construction adapted to produce a pair of communicating compartments, which when in use as a foot warmer, are adapted to be folded one upon the other to constitute an envelop to receive and cover the feet at the top and bottom portions of the latter and around the ankles in contradistinction to a mere covering of the feet at one of said portions and in such a manner as to render it unnecessary to sustain the weight of the'limbs upon the bottle, thereby obviating exposure of the feet to drafts and cool air, which would tend to negative any utility of the device as a foot warmer, which might otherwise be served.

l/Vith the above objects and others in view,

las will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangements of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which like characters indicate the corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, and wherein, i

Figure l is a plan view of a hot water bottle constructed in accordance with the invention, the bottle being opened out.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line hot water bottle consists of two sections 7- and 8, of rubber or the like and of substantially rectangular outline, this producing the general outline of the bottle. These .sections are composed of rubber and connected at their edge portions 9 by a binding 10, Jthe connection being effected byfvulcanizing or otherwise so as to make the bag Waterproof. Oneend of the bottle is provided with a rectilinear edge 1l, 'While the opposite end of l 'connecting portion 17 as shown at 21 and vthe water will run the bag is provided with a concavely arcuate edge 12 at either side of which said end is provided with convexly arcuate extensions 13, which are prolonged a greater distance from the transverse center or axis of the bot- 'tle than the portion of the bag at the other side of said center so that the bag will fit around the ankles in a manner to be hereinafter more fully explained.

With the sections 7 and 8 secured together at their edge portions as specified, a storage place is provided therebetween for receiving hot water or the like 14 and this space is divided into two communicating compartments 15 and 16, which are partially sepa.- rated through a transverse connection or web portion 17 extending from one edge 18 to a point in spaced relation to the opposite edge 19, thereby providing a space 20 establishing communication between the two conipartments. At the transverse connecting or web portion 17, theJ opposite sections 7 and 8 are secured thereto as is more clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings by vulcanizing or otherwise, the embodiment illustrated, showing the sections 7 and 8 offset toward the 22, respectively, for connection with the portion 17, which latter is of sufficient width to permit a proper folding of the bottle at the toes so as to conform accurately to the feet and lie snugly against the same. This construction also insures against bulging'of the bag by the settling of the water at one side thereof, that is, in one of the compartments 15 orl, such as would cause displacement of the bag from the feet, render it impossible to fit the bag snugly to the feet, as well as impossible to entirely cover-the feet. It is believed that this will be understood by anyone familiar with the ordinary type of hotvwater bottle, as well as the fact that all to one end so that the bag will bulge out or become unduly distended at that end while the remaining end is only partially filled in the case of the bag being filled to its capacity or if not filled entirely to its capacity, said lattei` end will be empty and, therefore, not serve any purpose as a heatin medium.

Intermediately of the longitudinal edge 18 the bag is provided with an extension 23 equipped with an eyelet 24 or other suitable means for suspendin the device to permit the same to drain tirouglran outlet in a neck portlon 25 provided intermediately of the opposite longitudinal edge 19. The neck portion25 may be attached to or formed integral with the bottle proper and is provided with lan inclosed niet-allie and internally screw-threaded sleeve 26 adapted to receive a closure plu 27 for closing the filling and draining opening when the device is in use, but adapted to be removed when the device is suspended by the eyelet 24 upon a suitable nail or hook to permit the water oi' other fluid to entirely drain from the bottle after use.

As shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the device is so constructed that when a person is sitting or reclining in a chair, the feet 2S may be propped upon a suitable pillow or cushion 29 so that the feet will extend substantially vertically' erect, that is, in a natural position without imposing the exertion of muscular strain upon the legs to suppoi't the feet or necessitating that the weight thereof be supported by the bottle as is the case with devices heretofore provided. In this instance the part of the bag provided with the compartment 16 will lie snugly against the bottoms of the feet and at the connecting or web portion 17 assisted by lthe eyelet 24 and the neck portion :25, the bag will fold gracefully and snugly over the toes and the part of the bag providing the compartment 15 will lie snugly against tlie instep and ankles, the arcuate recess 12 and the convexly arcuate portions 13 serving to permit the bag to conform to the ankles quite well up on the legs as well as providing slightly greater weight in the compartment 15 than in the compartment 1G so as to retain the bottle on the feet without the use of fastening means. Of course, if a. person is lying or reclining in bed, the feet will be similarly supported upon the mattress or a pillow disposed beneath the feet, ,to similar advantage, but if desired the bag adjacent to thecompartment 15 may be provided with opposite extensions or tabs 30 provided with spring balls 31 of ball or snap fasteners, while at opposite sides of the part providing the compartment 1G, extensions, tongues or tabs 32 are provided having cooperating socket parts 33, which completing the fasteners serve to permit the securing of the bottle upon the feet at the sides thereof by engaging said parts face to' face, that is, with the tabs 30 and 3Q in contact and extending directly outward "instead of being rebent or curved as might be done if desired. Of course, it is to be understood that any suitable form of fastening means may be provided for connecting the side edges of the bottle to hold the same or `the feet and in contact with the feet at the outer sides so as to obtain the full effect of the heating medium and prevent the entrance of cool air or the formation of a, draft between the sections cf the bag such as would tend to nullify the action of the heating medium. This form of connecting the side edges of the bottle as previously described, and which is possible by the construction sliown in Fig. 1, is clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 -of the drawings, in which a frat,-` mentary part of a bag is shown in lieu of recata? the connecting portion 17, a connecting` or web portion 34 is provided, but in this instance instead of extending to one side of the bag as shown in Fig. 1, said connecting portionterminates short of both sides so as to provide intern'lediate passages 35 and 36, establishing communication between the opposed compartments. In this instance the bag is provided with an additional neck portion 37 and a plug 38 closing the same, said plug being provided with a supporting ring serving as an operating member as Well as means for suspending the bag from a hoolr or nail when draining the bag after use', or when the device is in use as a douche bag, as will be subsequently pointed out. The opposite side of the bag is provided with a. neck portion 39 having an internally screw-threaded .sleeve 40 adapted to receive the ordinary form of closure plug when the device is in use as a hot Water bottle, either in connection with the feet as previously explained, or to serve as an applicant to any other part of the body With the advantage of a considerable increase in the area of the surface covered. When the device is in use to Warm the feet, Water may be supplied to the compartments from either side and the communicating` spaces 35 and 36 Will insure that the Water will be distributed on both sides of the connecting or web portion or in the compartments, the remaining construction of the device being the same as illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings. lin the use of tWo plugs, the draining of the bag Will also be facilitated inasmuch as both plugs may be removed and a comp-lete passage established through the bag open at both sides. 0n the other hand, when the device isin use as a douche bag, the closure plug is replaced by a plug 41 carrying a beaded tube 42 to which a discharge tube 4:3 is attached as in the ordinary form of douche bags, the nozzles adapted to be carried.

bythe free end of the tube being of the ordinary or any preferred construction or sha-pe consistent Awith the'use thereof. This Will provide three uses for the device instead of restricting its use as in the case of the ordinary form of hot Water bag or bottle, or the ordinary douche bag, besides increasing materially the surface area of the body which may be covered by the application of the device in a spread condition as distinguished from the folded position of the de.- vice When `in use as a foot Warmer.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection With the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation -Will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention apper-tains and While li describe the principle of operation of the invention, together with the devices which l now consider to be the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that the devices shown are merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are Within the scope of the device as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, What lf claim as ynevv and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a hot Water bottle, opposed 'sides connected at their edge portions, said sides being of substantially elongated rectangular form with a rectilinear end and a concavely arcuate end provided with spaced conveXly arcuate portions, a Web A portion transversely of the bottle intermediately of the length thereof, and a filling and draining means for the bottle.

2. lln a hot Water bottle, opposed sides connected at their edge portions, said sides being of substantially elongated rectangular form with a rectilinear end and a concavely arcuate end provided With spaced conveXly arcuate portions, a Web portion transversely of the bottle intermediately of the length thereof, a filling and draining means for the bottle, and suspending means for the bottle.

3. ln a hot Water bottle, opposed sides connected at their edge portions said sides being of substantially elongated rectangular form With a rectilinear end and a concavely arcuate end provided with spaced conveXly arcuate portions, a web portion transversely of the bottle intermediately of the length thereof, and a pair of opposed filling and draining openings for the bottle.

4. ln a hot Water bottle, opposed sides connected at their edge portions, said sides being of substantially elongated rectangular form With a rectilinear end and a concavely arcuate end provided with spaced designed to receive closure plugs, and a douching implement having a tube adapted for connection in either of said openings.

6. A hot Water bottle comprising opposed side portions vjoined at their edges to provide a receptacle, said side portionsrbeing connected by an intermediate Web portion holding said'sides odset toward each other, and filling and draining openings for the bottle adjacent said Web portion.

7. A hot water bottle comprising opposed side portions joined at their edges to provide a receptacle, said side portions being connected by an intermediate web portion, funnel-shaped necks at the side edges of the bottle and removable closures therefor, said necks being disposed intermediately of the length of the bottle, one end of said bottle having a rectilinear edge portion and the other end of said bottle having a concavely arcuate edge portion, as and'for the purpose described.

8. A hot water bottle of rubber or the like, divided by a transverse narrow strip with itsopposite faces opposing the inner faces of the sides of the bottle and joining the opposed Walls thereto in close proximity to each other to provide liquid-tight water holding compartments on either side thereof, a passage connecting the compartments, and a plugged opening adjacent said passage.

9. A hot water .I bottle of rubber or the like divided by a transverse narrow strip between and joining the opposed walls thereto to provide liquid-tight Water holding compartments on either side thereof, walls having a substantially rectangular outline and provided at one end with spaced conveXly arcuate portions and an intermediate concavely arcuate portion adapted when the device is folded and applied to the feet to conform to the ankles, passages connecting said compartments adjacent the edges of the bottle, and plugged openings adjacent said passages.

10. A hot water bottle of rubber or the like divided by a transverse narrow strip -joining the opposed walls to provide a foldljoining the opposed walls to provide a flat bending portion and holding compartments, a pair of openings provided adjacent the edges of the bottle opposite the ends of said bending portion for communication with the compartments interiorly of the bottle, passages provided to connect the compartments, a plug for one of said openings, and a discharge tube for douching purposes connected in the other opening.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ANNE LABORDE.

liquid tight water Witnesses:

EsTELLE HENNING, E. W. PELTON. 

